5 Things I Learned at Yellow Conference

Myself & Rebel had the amazing opportunity to attend this year’s Yellow Conference and talk fear and creativity with a group of exceptional women. These are 5 things the conference taught (and reminded) me about.

You are who you surround yourself with

You know the saying ‘you are what you eat’? The same applies to the people you spend your time with.

Make sure you surround yourself with people that see the magic in you. They will help build you up, encourage you, motivate you, and help you stay positive in times of need.

If you’re a creative entrepreneurial gal, you can’t afford to spend time with people that bring you down. It impacts your work, your soul, and your outlook on life. Don’t make time for toxic people. That being said, make sure you know the difference between a toxic person you can’t change and someone that needs your help.

No one is perfect — we all have imposter syndrome

Ever feel like you’re a fraud and someone is going to find out? Me too. It’s common to question yourself and your abilities, especially women given the social and cultural conditioning we experience everyday telling us we’re not enough. Curb the negative thinking and remind yourself that you are strong, intelligent, and deserve good things and good people in your life.

This is another reason to surround yourself with positive people — they’ll remind you you’re not a fraud, you’re KILLIN’ IT, and your lashes look fucking boss.

Case in point:

Own who you are

Stop apologizing for you are and who you want to be. Be real, be confident, and be proud of who you are and where you came from. We all have to start somewhere; your journey has shaped you into the capable person that you are.

As women, we spend a lot of time saying sorry. Pair that with being Canadian and that’s a whole lot of ‘sorry’. JUST STOP. Own what you are, what you do, and be proud to be a woman. You are so much more than your resume — when someones asks you what you do, tell them who you ARE.

Determine your values & stick to them

Take the time to figure out what your core values are — and stay true to them. This works whether you’re working for yourself or a company.

At Rebel, our marketing team has it’s own core values that we all refer to. These tie into our corporate values but also get more specific to our team. Our values: innovation, quality & excellence, fearlessness, positivity & support, communication & collaboration, and being agile. Get specific for each of your values and what they mean to you.

Check in with your values when you’re working on something or with someone. Say no to whatever doesn’t feel right (like taking on a client that doesn’t fit your values).

Girl power is real

We are stronger and louder together when we support each other’s dreams. Surround yourself with the ladies that believe in YOU and amazing things will happen. The people and brands that showed up at Yellow Conference are a testament to that.